Seven Day Trips from Antalya by Car

Seven routes you can drive from central Antalya and return the same day. Distances are measured from the city centre (the Konyaaltı-Lara stretch); times stretch a little in summer traffic.

Close by (under an hour)

Düden and Kurşunlu Waterfalls — 15-25 km, 20-40 minutes. At Upper Düden you can walk into the cave behind the falling water; Lower Düden is where the water drops straight into the sea. Kurşunlu is quieter, with a walking trail through pine forest. All three fit into one day.

Termessos — 35 km, 45 minutes. An ancient city built on a mountaintop. It is a steep one-kilometre climb from the car park to the theatre, so wear proper shoes. The reward is an ancient theatre looking out over the Taurus Mountains.

Mid-range (1 to 1.5 hours)

Saklıkent and the Elmalı highlands — around 50 km, 1 hour. When the coast hits 40 degrees, it is roughly 10 degrees cooler up here. In winter the ski slope at Saklıkent opens.

Side ancient city — 65 km, 1 hour. The seaward columns of the Temple of Apollo, a large Roman theatre, and a beach right next to it. There are cafes among the ancient streets, so lunch is easy.

Olympos and Çıralı — 80 km, 1 hour 15 minutes. Ruins scattered through the forest and a long pebble beach behind them. If you stay into the evening, climb to Yanartaş, where natural flames come out of the rock and show up best after dark. The climb takes 30 minutes; bring a torch.

Köprülü Canyon — 95 km, 1.5 hours. The rafting centre of the region. Even if you skip the water, the Roman bridge over the canyon and the riverside trout restaurants make the drive worthwhile.

The long one (expect half the day on the road)

Kaş and Kekova — 190 km, about 3 hours. Sea views nearly the whole way along the D400 coast road. It can be done in a day, but you need an early start and you may run out of time for the Kekova boat trip. Two days is far more comfortable.

Practical notes

• On mountain roads (Termessos, the highlands) refuel before you drop below half a tank; stations get sparse.
• Most ancient sites have no shade at midday. Early morning or late afternoon is much more pleasant.
• The Museum Pass is not sold to foreign visitors, but ask about combined tickets if you plan several sites.

All of these can be reached by bus, but at places like Termessos, Çıralı and the highlands there are still a few kilometres between the last stop and the site itself. With a car that gap stops being a problem.